The Peugeot 207 Coupe Cabriolet was the best selling model for Peugeot and was produced between 2006 and 2012. A great small cabriolet, praised for its value, safety and styling, replacing its predecessor the Peugeot 206cc – the first car available with a metal folding roof system. The French Company led the way forward with a new style and design for fun loving cabriolet owners replacing the standard fabric roof system with a genius design.
My Peugeot roof won’t close – Help!!
As with all cabriolets, the Peugeot 207cc has its faults with the roof system. The complex roof system is made up of a series of hydraulics, wiring, sensors and motors and roof control unit. The roof, boot and windows are all connected and need to work in sequence for a smooth operation.
We have created some useful answers to common questions and video tutorials to give the Peugeot 207cc owners some DIY tips when their roof fails; Common questions and answers to get you out of a pickle and some self testing advice and checks before you contact us or your local specialist to fault find and carry out the necessary repair to your roof system.
At Cayman Autos, the Peugeot 207cc is a regular visitor and the most common repairs we carry out are;
- Replacement Hydraulic Pump Units
- Replace Roof ECU
- Wiring Repairs
- Sensor Replacement
- Cable Repairs
How do I check the hydraulic fluid level on my Peugeot 207cc?
Many owners think their folding roof system with an electric folding roof is completely electric and maintenance free. In-fact there is a hydraulic pump which actuates the hydraulic rams for the roof system.
As with any hydraulic equipment it is important to check the oil level regularly in order to ensure the system will operate correctly.
If cabriolet owners are finding they are regularly topping hydraulic fluid to the system, this indicates there is a fluid loss within the system. This may indicate a loss from one or some of the hydraulic hoses, the rams or the pump itself.
Here is our video to show you how to check your hydraulic fluid levels on the Peugeot 207cc
“Screen Not Deployed” message on my Instrument Cluster – what does this mean?
In the boot of your Cabriolet, there is a luggage net that divides space between your luggage and the space the roof folds into. This net stops you overloading the boot space to allow sufficient room to enjoy the benefits of open top driving whilst having items in the boot area. It is important not to overload this space and keep within the restricted limits.
Here is a video link to show the problem when this message is shown and how to check the load divider is in the correct position;
How do I close my Peugeot 207 Hard Top Folding Roof Manually?
We often get asked – “How do I close my convertible roof?” when the roof system has malfunctioned and the roof is stuck open. This can be very frustrating for owners – a security risk and when the UK’s wet weather hits us rather impractical!
Soft top convertible roof systems are generally far less complicated to close than hard top tin folding roofs that are complex and heavy to manoeuvre.
Your first call would be to seek professional help. If you have roadside recovery we would suggest calling them as whilst they are not usually familiar with roof mechanisms, they have the tools handy and have a technical background to avoid causing further damage to the convertible roof system or themselves.
Most vehicles come equipped with an Owner’s manual and there will be diagrams to help explain each step. This is a 2 person job to get the roof closed and secure.
The Peugeot 207cc has many steps to getting the cabriolet roof closed and hopefully this will help describe each step as best we can when the roof is stuck in the fully open position;
- Ensure the vehicle is in neutral and the handbrake is applied.
- Switch the ignition on and take all of the windows down to a fully opened position.
- Turn the ignition off and remove the key.
- Unlock the boot with the middle button on your key fob.
- Once the boot is opened remove the carpet and taker out the spare wheel.
- Using a 6mm allen key insert into the hexagonal cross section on the hydraulic pump casing and then anticlockwise turn the key to release the hydraulic pressure. Do not force the screw once it stops.
- You will need a Phillips screwdriver to remove the plastic trim at the back of the boot held on with 2 screws – remove these screws and trim.
- With 1 hand holding the back parcel shelf, reach under the boot to the left to release the mechanism. Pull the bar forward whilst simultaneously folding the parcel shelf back.
- Release the lever on the boot hinge on both sides.
- With assistance place a person on each side of the vehicle and gently raise the boot lid – it is important this is done slowly. Do not fight against the hydraulics as if this procedure is done too quickly the boot will distort.
- Once the boot is lifted off the frame, insert a screwdriver into the bracket (there is a hole on the bracket to hold the boot up. Slowly close the boot fully.
- Each person must place their hands on top of the roof panel and gently & slowly lift the roof up. TAKE CARE AS FINGERS AND BODY PARTS CAN BE TRAPPED AND INJURY CAN BE CAUSED
- Fully close the roof by pulling the roof forward with hands – each person to move the roof panel forward towards the windscreen.
- Get into the vehicle and remove the roof blanking plug, above the driver’s head and insert the 6mm allen key into the roof, turning the key clockwise, whilst lifting the roof slightly from inside. This releases the roof lock.
- Still sitting inside the vehicle, lower the roof into place and turn the allen key anticlockwise to lock into place. Remember to replace the blanking plug
- Remove the screwdriver from the boot mechanism as currently the boot is still vertical
- Gently close the boot
- Unlock the boot as normal
- You now need to secure the boot hinge – on the boot hinge, move the metal U clip to the down position & locate into another hole.
- Check the boot lid is locked and repeat on both sides
- Replace the spare wheel, carpet & plastic trim
- In the boot ensure the load divider is in place & check it locates into the catches on either side.
- Check all is secure and drive carefully to a garage to find the roof fault and repair required.
Sometimes we find that cabriolet owners after a fairly complex closure procedure need to check to see if the roof will get stuck open again – an unwise approach- much safer to let the experts diagnose the original fault. Next time you may not be so lucky to get the roof closed again or perhaps it may stick halfway rendering the vehicle undriveable.
We would always recommend that whilst there is a manual procedure for closing a roof system on a hardtop convertible roof, the experts deal with this on a regular basis and can take the stress and risk of harm to yourself, the vehicle’s roof system or perhaps your relationship with the helper assisting closure.
There will be fault codes logged within the Roof system’s ECU (Control Unit) and this will give codes to indicate where to commence the investigations for an electrical fault. Mechanical failures do not provide fault codes and require a professional that is familiar with the complex roof systems to diagnose and provide the most cost efficient repair for your vehicle.
How to tackle water ingress for a Peugeot 207cc Cabriolet owner
The first and most important step of repairing a convertible water leak is to correctly diagnose the source of the leak. It should be noted that the location of water coming into the vehicle doesn’t always necessarily indicate that this is the area to start a repair — there may be another entry point from which water is travelling.
Whilst water ingress into the cabin area causes the most nuisance, it’s important to check the entire vehicle for water. Look at the rear carpets and pay close attention to the boot area, as water ingress into the boot can cause a lot of damage. Lift carpets to check boot wells where the spare tyre is kept to look for signs of water, rust and calcium deposits.
Ask a friend or partner to sit in the vehicle whilst you water test the vehicle with a hose as this can sometimes make the diagnosis process faster.
Common Causes of Water Leaks to Convertible Roof Systems
We often see neglected cabriolets with malfunctioning roofs come into the workshop. The sad part is, most of the repairs that we perform on these vehicles could have been avoided if the owner regularly maintained and cared for their convertible roof.
By properly maintaining the folding roof on your cabriolet, you can avoid expensive repair bills and the inconvenience of bringing your car in for an extensive repair. Here are a few areas where you should be particularly vigilant about maintenance:
Roof & Boot Seals – using existing seals
The design of door and window seals vary considerably from vehicle to vehicle – however they are all made from foam rubber with a sealed surface. When the roof, doors and windows are closed, the seal is compressed to make the cabin watertight.
Unfortunately, your vehicle’s seals will gradually accumulate grime and deteriorate, which can cause them to become unbonded from the paintwork. When this happens, the seals will need to be cleaned and rebonded onto to the vehicle. It is also prudent to treat an unbonded seal to rejuvenate and nourish it before reattaching it to the vehicle.
We often see vehicles with neglected seals in the workshop. However, we rarely need to replace them as they can be cleaned and rejuvenated. The only downside is that it does take some time to ensure seals are dirt free, dry and lubricated.
The most common materials that damage convertible seals include road dirt, tree debris and bird muck. By keeping these seals clean of these materials, you will extend their lifespan and greatly reduce the risk of a leak developing.
For your convertible’s seals to be watertight, both contact surfaces need to be clean – dirt particles can build up and this is where water can penetrate.
We recommend a lubricant called Krytox. Our technicians use it at the shop and find it to be far more effective than cheaper seal lubricants. If you are going to spend the time cleaning all the seals, you should use a quality product like Krytox to ensure the seals have their elasticity restored.
It’s important to clean your seals fully before applying a Krytox or another lubricant. Customers often mistakenly apply a lubricant before ensuring that their seals are clean and dry. Applying a lubricant over dirt will not have any benefit for your vehicle’s seals.
Please see: How to Dry a Damp Car After a Water Leak.
Drains
When water lands on your cabriolet, it is directed down channels to drains where it is dumped onto the road surface. Unfortunately, these drains can become blocked if they are not cleared regularly as a part of your servicing schedule.
The most common cause of drain blockages is road muck and tree litter. It can cause water to build up in the vehicle’s channels, particularly after heavy rainfall. This can lead to corrosion and water ingress.
Related Questions:
Do I need diagnostic equipment to fix my Peugeot 207cc roof issues?
As with all modern vehicles the correct diagnostic equipment is crucial. Unfortunately most garages have generic diagnostic tools that are not effective for diagnosing the faults for cabriolet roof systems and will not access the roof ECU. You will need and we use Peugeot Planet or Autologic and can generally find the fault with your roof system within an hour.
Main dealers and other garages, with little expertise in this area will charge by the hour and often take longer due to their lack of expertise in this field costing the cabriolet owner for their time and inefficient due to their lack of convertible roof knowledge.
I have water in my convertible roof – is this the cause of roof failure?
Water ingress is a common problem across all convertible roof systems. It is vital this is addressed to ensure that water does not impact on the electrical components and mechanical parts – this will result in failure and corrosion. A common fault is blocked drains and also dirty seals.
I think a sensor has failed in my roof system – how much will this cost to repair?
A common question and DIY diagnosis for cabriolet owners that have taken their vehicle to a garage with little expertise. Be careful of this type of diagnosis as invariably it is a wild guess and most customers believe sensors sound a nice easy fix.
Of course a sensor may have failed, however to give an accurate quote we need to identify which sensor has failed – there are many sensors that communicate with each other in the roof system and depending on the particular sensor and location will reflect the price. Some sensors are tricky to access and require hours of stripping the vehicle out to get to.
What does Implausible Roof Signal fault code mean?
A garage with little expertise may draw fault codes from the cabriolet roof ECU. Unfortunately without the vehicle it is impossible to give a diagnosis for the repair based on these codes. The roof system is like a circle, where all the components communicate with each other. These codes show the technician which items are not communicating with each other rather than identifying the correct repair required.
Summary
We hope you have found this blog useful for the common Peugeot 207cc roof problems that many of our 207CC Cabriolet owners experience. Having a convertible roof system can be the envy of all our friends, however not quite so fun if the sun is shining and the roof is not opening.
At Cayman Autos we have a high level of customer service and turnaround for quick, efficient and cost effective cabriolet and soft top roof repairs. We have customer travel from all over the UK and Internationally for our expertise and knowledge together with the most up to date diagnostic equipment.
The correct diagnosis for your Cabriolet fault is paramount and can save customers time and money on unproductive and ineffective repairs. Please check our testimonials and reviews on Google Facebook and Trustpilot to give you the confidence to make the journey to our workshop.
We carry many parts in stock and aim where possible to diagnose and repair the very same day. We look forward to helping you with all of your Cabriolet Roof Faults.
If you require some assistance from the team at Cayman Autos, Contact us today on 01737 761599 or visit us at 51 ORMSIDE WAY, REDHILL, SURREY, RH1 2LG.
